Improvement in corn-planters



@anni @titille WALTER CALDWELL, OFQBRYAN, onto.

Leners Patent N0.^o2,15o,rcated.J -ngiy c, 18.69.

IMPRQVEMENT IN conn-Prensas.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters 'Patent and making p'a: of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER CALDWEDL, of Bryan, in the county of '\Villiams, and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oornl Planters; and `l do hereby declare that the following is a full and completedescription ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a' part ot this specification, in which- Figure l, plate 1, is a side view of the planter.`

Figure 2, a view ofthe front side.

Figure 3, plate 2, a view of the top.

Figure 4, a view ot the rear end.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the different views.

This invention relates" to a machine for planting corn in hills at regular distances apart, and each way in rows, so that said corn can be cultivated both ways, 1theby saving time and labor in the eultlilatonothe.

` In iigs. 4 and 3, A represents a pair of wheels, se-

cured to-the axle-shaft B, on which is mounted av frame, C.,

In said flame is arranged the planting-devices, con- 'isting ofthe seed-droppers F, one on each end of the rame.

Said seed-droppers consist of a revolving disk, indcated by the dotted lines a, iig. 3; also shown in iig. 4, placed between a pair of sides, D E, of which D is the lower side or bottom, and E, g. 3, the upper side or top.

F is the hopper, into which the corn is thrown. -A section ofthe top F is removed, thereby'bringingthe disk Ain open and direct relation to the hopper, of which it forms the bottom.

In said disk is a hole or cup, b, iig. 3, having a holding capacity of about four or tive grains. Also, -in the bottom or side D is a hole, corresponding in size to that in the disk, and which communicates with the ground by means of the tube G, iig. 4, to the lower end of' which is attached a shoe, H, figs. l and 2, whereby a furrow is made in the ground for the reception of the seed.

1, iig. 3, is a swing beam, pivoted to and suspended from the standards J, iig. 2, by means of the arms K.

To said beam is attached the disks a, referred to, by means of the links L, whereby they are given an oscillating movement, as the beam is made to vibrate, by the cams M, iig. l, secured to the hub of the wheels A, and revolve therewith, and in so .doing impinge upon the arms K, thereby pushing them forward and the beam I, to which the disks are attached, as above said, causing them to move around a certain distance, but which are again moved back, as the cams leave the arms, by the reverse movement of thebeam, effected by the weight M', attached thereto by, the cords 0, for a purpose hereinafter shown. v

Io the under side of the front end of the frame is hung a pair of cultivators, P, figs. 1 and 2, the front end beingpivoted in the stays Q, whereas lthe rear end is suspended by a hook and eye to the beam R.

Said beam is attached to one end of the lever S,.the lever being pivoted to the frame by means of the shaft T, fig. 3, which serves as a fnlcrum for the vibration of the lever, for the purpose of raising and` lowering the cultivators above described, in the rear end of which is a roller, V, tig. 4, the purpose of whichwill *presently be Shown.

It will be observed that on theperiphery of each of the wheels A there are arranged four wings, A', projecting from each vside of the wheel.` vThe circumference of the wheels issuch' that the said wings are aboutfour feet dist-ant'from each other, or the distance that the hills of corn'are to be, with which distance thewings on the wheel will correspond; li'ence there will bemore or less wings, as-the distance the hills-.are to 'be-apart.

In this machine, the distance is assumed to be four feet,'which is also the distance that the shoes H and seed-boxes are fromeach other.

It will alsobeobserved that the cams M are fourin number, and-which are. so constructed that from one extreme point to the other is four feet, or rather the distance is so calculated that they will operate lthe swing-beam so that the cups or holes a in' the disk will come in open relation to the discharging-tube G, at the distance of each four feet or hill, be the distance more or less.

vHaving'described the construction and arrangement of this machine, the practical operation of the same is as follows:

Ihe seed-boxes, fon being illedwith corn, Aand .the machine-properly placed .in the field, in the'line of work, the operator takes his place on the seat B', and starts it olf. As the wheels revolve, the cams operate the swing-beam, which, in turn, operates the disk, blinging the cup br hole b therein in open relation to the tube, through which the corn drops into the furrow plowed out by the shoe H, which is then covered by the shares c, following immediately along each side ofthe shoe. The dirt is then slightly raked over, smoothed down, and rolled, by the rake C' androllers V, following in the rear of the shoe. Should the ground be hard, the front shoes can be used.

As above said, the corn is dropped at intervals of four feet in the row, and dropping two rows at once. On the return of the machine, one wheel is adjusted so as to follow back in the tracks made by the wings A', said tracks being exactly opposite lthe hill or hills planted, and, as will be seen, just halt' the distance therefrom that the hills or rowsv of hills are apart.

This will bring the next row of hills four feet from the row on the opposite side of the wheel. As the tracks made by the wings are plainly to be seen, the operator is thereby enabled to know exactly where to adjust the machine, so that the wings will follow back in the tracks; therebre, each successive row of hills will be in line, and equally distant from' each other, which will 4allow of the eld being cultivated each Way in the after treatment.

On` turning the machine around at the end of the rows, should the wheels not be properly in position to follow the tracks, they can be locked by means ofthe hooks depending from the side ofthe roller F, which, on turningr the roller, by means of the levervF, g. 3, will throw the hooks up within reach of the wings, and thereby preventv the wheels from turning, but which will drag upon the ground until the wings and tracks are in exact relation to each other. The wheels are then liberated, by droppingr the lever to the position shown in fig. 1, and lthe work of planting resumed.

By this device, it will be obvious that the rows ot" hills will be planted equally distant from each-other in both directions, and that the hills will be uniform in the rows, and as truthfully soin this particular ,as though the ground had iirst been marked out and cross-marked into squares, as practised.

When required to move the machine from one field to another, or other places, the cultivators can be lifted The machine is' also thrown ont of gear, for the same purposeby pushing the swing-bar forward, and holding it there, out of reach of the cams, by the hook G. 1n this condition, the machine can be run from placepto place as safely and as easilyas. an ordinary cart.

What claim as my improvement, and desire to tivators P, and corn-droppexs, when constructed, ar-

ranged, and combined to operate and cooperate in relation to each other, substantially as described, and

for the purpose set forth.

WALTER CALDWELL.

Witnesses J. W. BURRIDGE, M. E. RUSSELL. 

